At last! A Labour policy that makes sense.

True petra. Shortsighted. And it’s costed the UK taxpayer ever since.

Its easy because the unemployed no longer have to “sign on”.
It was a bind and used to take most of the morning or afternoon. Being unemployed and having to sign on is not an easy alternative. We make benefit claiming easy - for the ones who refused to go back to work after Covid too.

Skydancer

What I don’t understand is how can anyone just decide not to work and claim benefits? Can someone please explain?

Some people seem to get away with it. In our extended family there are two sisters in their mid twenties, they have never had a job, their parents pay for everything, their food, clothes, holidays, driving lessons, everything. Their mother cleans their rooms and does their laundry as well as cooking all their meals, they both claim unemployment benefit. The last time I saw their grandmother she told me that both girls are now at university despite having no A Levels and very poor GCSE grades. I am at a loss to explain how they have got to this age without ever having worked and seemingly have no inclination to be independent at all.

Just now in the Telegraph:

“Britain’s sickness benefits bill is set to rise by another £1.3 billion before the Government launches its welfare review.

Tory analysis of official Treasury figures shows that spending on handouts for ill health is ballooning at a rate of £266 million a month.

An extra 17,000 people are signing up for payments each month as mental health problems and obesity fuel a worklessness crisis.

The figures will add to questions over the Government’s decision to delay proposals on reforming benefits until next year.”

petra

FriedGreenTomatoes2

Benefit cheats’ are small in number, the cost less than is lost with tax avoidance or so I’m told

I get what you’re saying Iam but I’ve also been reading up how social housing tenants in large cities ‘sub-let’ their apartments for astronomical monthly fees. They then bunk up or sofa surf with mates and share out the rental money.

It’s big business and has been for many years. Some grifters know all the scams …

Some years ago before the tories decimated the council coffers there were housing staff who went round public housing estates randomly knocking on doors to check who was living there.
Then the job cuts came and that process was cancelled in our council.

Austerity was a really daft policy. It reminds me of my dad’s mantra ‘for a ha’penth of tar, the ship was lost. Our government set about saving money by ‘getting rid of penpushers and senior managers. Those pen pushers used to answer phones and deal with concerns. Try phoning the DWP these days and lose the will to live.
Senior managers in public service like social work and prisons were made redundant over night. That cost financially but more importantly, years of experience thrown out and inexperienced people promoted, absolutely bonkers

As for subletting council housing - we need those random door knockers. I know of one situation where the official tenant lives in Spain, he’s on disability benefits due to mental health problems and sublets his 2 bed council accommodation. He flies back to England when his benefit status is reviewed. As FGT says it’s a long standing shameless scam

JennyCee

Its easy because the unemployed no longer have to “sign on”.
It was a bind and used to take most of the morning or afternoon. Being unemployed and having to sign on is not an easy alternative. We make benefit claiming easy - for the ones who refused to go back to work after Covid too.

They do? Every two weeks, and regular interviews with an advisor.

Yes, people claiming JSA have to sign on every 2 weeks in person.

www.gov.uk/jobseekers-allowance/your-jsa-claim

My hardworking son tells me that his large company has a freeze on new jobs at the moment.
I have not looked in detail but do employers have to pay increased NIC on any apprentices they employ?

Apprentices are not paid the minimum wage?

£6.40 performance, I think, for under 19s.

Per hour!!!

Not worth getting out of bed? MissA

Well, depending on circumstances, it'll come back to the point where people have to top up their wages with benefits, presumably?

Anyone tried getting a “Saturday Job” these days?

They’re a bit thin on the ground in this 24/7 hours culture.

Also when did people start being referred to as “young people” even up to the age of 24?

It is in my opinion another excuse for paying anyone over age 17 a none living wage.
These threats have all been tried before by every government since Margaret Thatcher and come to nowt.
Isn’t the definition of insanity, persisting in doing the same thing but expecting a different result!

Skydancer

When my parents were young most people aspired to become wealthier. There was a lot of snobbery. I can remember one woman in our small town showing off about the weight of the chicken she was cooking for Christmas lunch. Women were judged by how white their net curtains were. People were trying to outdo one another and everyone gossiped. Now nobody could care less. Among some people pride and ambition have disappeared. They aspire to nothing except an easy life and hard work isn’t something they want to do.

Well thank goodness for that. I don't eat chicken and don't have net curtains, I lack in aspiration obviously

Well as a young person back in the day, I certainly aspired to more than £6.40 an hour.

It would help if people acknowledged the actual facts about "people laying around on benefits"

Point them out, and they're ignored.

Granmarderby10

Anyone tried getting a “Saturday Job” these days?

They’re a bit thin on the ground in this 24/7 hours culture.

Also when did people start being referred to as “young people” even up to the age of 24?

It is in my opinion another excuse for paying anyone over age 17 a none living wage.
These threats have all been tried before by every government since Margaret Thatcher and come to nowt.
Isn’t the definition of insanity, persisting in doing the same thing but expecting a different result!

My older DGC and some of their friends have 'Saturday' jobs.
The pay is £6.40 an hour in the UK for 16 year olds but some employers might pay more and if they work in hospitality there might be a share of tips too.

I agree with those who have pointed out just how much damage austerity measures have done, such as checking on who is living in social housing property, the mass redundancies of experienced prison staff etc. So short sighted and the effects take years as we are now seeing. Can I also just say that I hate the word "handouts" as used in the quoted Daily Telegraph article.

Hospitality and hairdressing are the only sectors with apprenticeships, in this area.

ronib

My hardworking son tells me that his large company has a freeze on new jobs at the moment.
I have not looked in detail but do employers have to pay increased NIC on any apprentices they employ?

The level that employers have to pay NI will be £5,000 per year instead of the current £9,100.

Employees will not pay NI on anything up to £12,576 per year, but are treated as having paid NICs without actually having to make a payment.

HousePlantQueen

I agree with those who have pointed out just how much damage austerity measures have done, such as checking on who is living in social housing property, the mass redundancies of experienced prison staff etc. So short sighted and the effects take years as we are now seeing. Can I also just say that I hate the word "handouts" as used in the quoted Daily Telegraph article.

I agree with all you say!

As an ex DWP worker, retired in 2022, with a daughter currently working for the DWP, one of the huge issues with helping people back into work is Work Coaches (advisors or the like) have TEN minute appointments and huge caseloads, so helping anyone back into work with this little amount of time is nigh on impossible, they are meant to see people fortnightly but often cannot fit them in and simply don’t have the resource, training or personality to help people.

It’s all a tick box exercise and claimants are treated as numbers not humans.

The entire system needs a huge overhaul
including the amounts paid.

Removing the two child cap will not assist people into work, there is help, but it’s hard to get and matching claimants to suitable jobs in their local areas is also an issue.

Yes, there are a few “playing the system” but in the 8 quite diverse jobcenters I worked in, there are main vulnerable people, living on low incomes with no chance of living better lives. In particular disabled and unwell people, single people, care leavers and older people 50+.

It’s the minority you hear about in the media, right leaning media simply loves to find “benefit scroungers”

GG13 so effectively taking away any incentive to employ part time workers? Part time work being a good opportunity for young mothers and students.

Also I don’t understand why anyone receiving a State pension but in temporary paid employment should be hammered for NIC having paid for at least 40 years…..

HousePlantQueen

I agree with those who have pointed out just how much damage austerity measures have done, such as checking on who is living in social housing property, the mass redundancies of experienced prison staff etc. So short sighted and the effects take years as we are now seeing. Can I also just say that I hate the word "handouts" as used in the quoted Daily Telegraph article.

Yes, unfortunately cutting back staff at Job Centres has also meant that those who are genuine but need some help and support have little chance of getting any or enough. I also object to using "handouts" as its deliberately pejorative, and demonising a whole group of people.

Thank you Cossy👏👏👏

Your post is a breath of fresh air; an informed comment from someone who actually knows about the system, rather than the repeating of media scaremongering and misinformation by those who don’t!